The Republican leader in the US House of Representatives reportedly paid his wife and daughter $500,000.

The payments appear in Federal Election Commission statements and separate records in Tom DeLay's home state of Texas, says the New York Times.

While other Congress members employ relatives, these payments - via political committees - are reported to be particularly generous.

Mr DeLay's aides said the women had played a valuable role.

The Times says payments to his wife, Christine, and his daughter, Dani DeLay Ferro, were described in the disclosure forms as "fund-raising fees," "campaign management" or "payroll," with no further information about how they earned the money.